A 19-YEAR-old woman jumped from a moving car to escape a would-be rapist who abducted her while she cycled along a quiet country lane.

The teenager had been on her bike on a narrow road near Betws y Coed late at night last month when a Vauxhall Vectra pulled up beside her.

What happened next was described to Caernarfon Crown Court yesterday as the driver, Eifion Wyn Royle, 38, of Garth y Hwylbren, Llanrwst, admitted false imprisonment with intent to commit rape, and was jailed for six years.

The victim was in the public gallery as her chilling ordeal was outlined by prosecuting barrister Wyn Lloyd Jones, who described the case as "probably every young woman's worst nightmare".

Mr Lloyd Jones said Royle got out of his car and demanded that she got in. She refused but he grabbed her. The woman had described herself later as being "numbingly terrified", and clung to her bike, shouting "please no, no".

But 15-stone Royle grabbed her neck and started to strangle her. He then ordered the teenager, who was gasping for air, to remove her trousers and get in his car.

Once inside, Royle told her to take off her top and cycling helmet.

Mr Lloyd Jones said the young woman decided to escape from the car when it slowed at an intersection, but Royle accelerated and turned out of the road junction.

"She took her chances, opened the door and jumped out," the barrister said. However, her bag was caught in the car and she was dragged for a short distance. She was lucky to escape serious injury, he added. "She was running for her life, screaming for help."

The woman reached the home of an off-duty police constable who was in bed. He found her at the top of his driveway, on her hands and knees, sobbing uncontrollably and screaming "help me, help me", and she was taken by ambulance to hospital.

Royle, who was arrested after police spotted his car, at first denied involvement. But after being picked out by the teenager in an identification parade, he made admissions and claimed he had heard voices in his head.

Defence barrister John Wyn Williams said: "The facts are accepted in their entirety. This must have been a terrifying experience for the young woman and he accepts that."